Dysphemism

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In language, both dysphemism (from the Greek “dys” δυς = non and “pheme'” φήμη = speech) and cacophemism (in Greek “cacos” κακός = bad) refer to the usage of an intentionally harsh word or expression instead of a polite one; they are rough opposites of euphemism. “Dysphemism” may be either offensive or merely humorously deprecating, while “cacophemism” is usually deliberately offensive.

Examples of dysphemism include “dead tree edition” for the paper version of an online magazine, or the American military personnel’s use of “shit on a shingle” for their common breakfast of creamed chipped beef on toast.

Dysphemism is as common as euphemism in everyday usage. Few sports teams actually slaughter or annihilate one another, and while a losing team may be disappointed or angry, they are unlikely to be shattered; few companies actually crush their competition; no one is actually dumb as a box of rocks. ((See:hyperbole.))

Many of the same subjects can be dysphemized as euphemized, such as sex and death—a respected dead person may be said to have passed away, a disrespected one to be worm food or to have kicked the bucket. Oddly, some humorous expressions can be either euphemistic or dysphemic, depending on context, because terms which can be dysphemic can also be affectionate. For example, spanking the monkey might be used as either a softer alternative for “male masturbation,” or a more deliberately provocative one, depending on the audience. Likewise, pushing up daisies can be taken as either softer or harsher than “died.”

1 The “Dysphemism Treadmill”
2 Examples
3 See also
4 References

[edit] The “Dysphemism Treadmill”

Similar to the concept of the euphemism treadmill, a complementary “dysphemism treadmill” exists, but is more rarely observed. In these cases, notions of profanity, obscenity and other words once called “offensive” are later described as “objectionable,” then “questionable,” and in some cases, they reach near or outright acceptability.

One modern example is the word “sucks.” “That sucks” began as American slang for “that is very unpleasant,” and is the shortened version of “that sucks cock/dick.” It developed over the late-20th century from being an extremely vulgar phrase to mainstream slang. (The origin of the intransitive usage, “sucks,” is disputed and may derive from more innocuous slang. See the archived discussions of The American Dialect Society [1]. The same may be said of the use of “screw,” often used as slang for sexual intercourse (and a euphemism for “fuck”), in such usages as “to screw up” (to make a major mistake).)

Sometimes a term will go from being a euphemism to being a dysphemism and then go back to being a euphemism. “Queer” and “gay,” for example, both started as euphemisms for “homosexual,” and then got on the euphemism treadmill and became insults—but are now the preferred adjectives amongst the gay community itself.

[edit] Examples

Broken, losing, crippleware (referring to defects in software ^[1])
Dead tree edition
Snail mail
(in French) “Manger les pissenlits par la racine” meaning “to eat dandelions by their roots” (for to be dead—similar to English “pushing up daisies”)
Point your percy at the porcelain (for urinate)
Pushing up daisies (for dead)
Worm food (for dead)
Curling one down/under (for defecation)
He/she bites the dust (for dies)
On the rag/red/blob (for menstruation)